4 killed as van falls into ravine

MURREE, Aug 30: Four persons including two women were killed and 12 others were injured when a speeding public transport van fell into deep ravine near 22 Miles on Thursday, Rescue 1122 sources confirmed.A van carrying 18 passengers was heading towards Rawalpindi from Murree. While trying to avoid two stationary vehicles which collided with each other, the driver lost control over the vehicle and it fell into deep ravine.

Four injured were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. Rozeena Bibi, 40, and Iqra, a young girl, were among the dead. — Correspondent

Two suspected terrorists held

CHAKWAL, Aug 30: The Kallar Kahar police have arrested two suspected Afghan terrorists and recovered explosives and a suicide jacket from their possession, officials here confirmed on Thursday.

They said that following a tip-off that two suspected men were going on foot near Hatar village, a police team rushed to the scene on Wednesday night and arrested the two suspects, identified as Bahadur Shah and Mohammad Sultan.

They said that police also recovered a suicide jacket, a remote, one hand grenade and other explosive material from the two.

Investigation officer Malik Kazim said that both terrorists belonged to Afghanistan. He said that a case had been registered against the two under the Anti-Terrorism Act and both suspects were sent to judicial lockup by an anti-terrorism court, Rawalpindi.

“We had applied for a remand, but the court did not grant it and instead sent the two suspects to judicial lockup,” Kazim said. — A Correspondent

Two die on road

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Two persons were killed in separate road accidents in capital here on Thursday, police said.

In the first incident, Arshad Khan, 40, a resident of Dhok Hasu, Rawalpindi, suffered multiple injuries when a trailer hit him while he was crossing a road near Sabzi Mandi. He was shifted to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police impounded the vehicle and arrested its driver for further legal action.

In another incident, Saifur Rehman, 80, suffered injuries when a speeding vehicle hit him at Zero Point while he was crossing the road.

The vehicle driver escaped from the scene leaving behind the injured on road. The injured was shifted to the hospital where died of injuries. — Staff Reporter

Construction ban lifted

MURREE, Aug 30: The Punjab government has lifted ban on construction of houses or commercial buildings on expressway here.

Confirming this, assistant commissioner, Murree, Tariq Manzoor Chandio said on Thursday that the builders should follow the by-laws of the Punjab government.

The ban was imposed by the Punjab government three years ago on the orders of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Under the orders, construction of any kind was banned within 100 metres on both sides of the expressway.

The residents were perturbed over the restriction, as they could not construct a shop or small house on their ancestral land.

Mr Chandio said that secretary local government and community development had issued a notification of lifting the ban and now the residents could build their houses or commercial buildings according to approved maps.

Sources said that MPA Raja Fayaz Sarwar played a key role in getting the ban on construction lifted.—Correspondent